Only a few years ago the Government recognised the service of merchant sailors and naval seamen who served in horrifying sub-zero conditions in the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Star medal was first awarded to those veterans who were still alive. Unfortunately Tim died in 2011 and it was not until later last year that he was posthumously awarded the medal.

But as his wife Mollie, of Woodlands Drive, explained, when the family first applied for the medal the Ministry of Defence could find no record of Tim despite serving on ships sunk by torpedoes four times.

Mollie and her family had evidence of Tim serving on numerous ships in the war. He served on HMS Bickerton which was sunk on August 22 1944 during an operation to try and destroy the German battleship Tirpitz .

Mollie, 82, a former teacher who worked at the National School for 25 years, says she is very proud to have the medal.

Tim Kidd and the Arctic Star which wife Mollie now proudly owns.

She said: “I felt all the effort had been worth it. It’s important for the children and grandchildren and their children. It made me realise it was an important part of history and I was anxious for their achievements to be recorded.”

After the war Tim went to Durham University to study economics and later trained as a priest and worked in South Yorkshire. He met Mollie and they were married in Mexborough. They later moved to Boston and came to Grantham in 1954.

Tim became vicar of St Anne’s and was chaplain at RAF Spitalgate. He went on to become a teacher and was head of the Religious Education department at King’s School. Mollie and Tim have two sons and two daughters, and seven grandchildren.

Mollie said that in receiving the Arctic Star on behalf of Tim, many other men who served in the Arctic Circle at the time would also be awarded the medal.